Noah Okafor quits Switzerland's national team and blames the coach

On the morning of September 10, 2026, the 26-year-old Leeds United striker, Noah Okafor, used social media to announce his withdrawal from the Switzerland national team, citing dissatisfaction with the work of the national team coach.

In the post, Okafor stated that coach Hakan Yakin would be the main cause of his departure, indicating that the relationship between them had deteriorated. The statement sparked immediate reactions among the national team supporters.

He added that the decision is also linked to the continuation of the current Swiss coach, Murat Yakin, who, according to the player, does not meet the national team's expectations. According to the player, this continuity hinders the necessary renewal of the squad.

Okafor also wrote: «My decision has nothing to do with my playing time. Things happened that hurt me deeply. Trust was broken. Promises were not kept. When they let me play against Algeria, people reacted to small mistakes far from our goal, something that hurt me deeply». He emphasized that his choice is not related to playing time, but to the damaged trust.

Reaction of the Swiss Federation

Shortly after, the Swiss Football Federation responded to the statement, declaring: «Noah informed that, at this point, he will no longer play for the national team. We respect the decision and wish him all the success with the club». The federation has not detailed additional measures yet.

Throughout his international career, the Swiss striker has accumulated two goals in 26 caps. Okafor posted the message on the Net, reinforcing his disappointment with the situation. His departure leaves the team without an experienced forward for upcoming fixtures.